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Draft:Paramardidevavarman


Paramardideva
Bālopinetā-Paramabhattaraka-Maharajadhiraja-Parameshvara-Māhishmatiadhipati-Dasharnadhinath-Mahobanaresh-
Shri-Kalanjaradhipati[1][2]
18th Chandel Emperor
Reignc. 1165-1203 CE
PredecessorYashovarman II
SuccessorTrailokyavarman
BornJanuary 19, 1160 AD
Mahoba, Uttar Pradesh
DiedApril 14, 1203 AD (Aged 43)
Kalinjar Fort, Uttar Pradesh
SpouseMalhana-Devi (Parihar Princess by Birth)
(Chandel queen by Marriage)
IssueNaiki Devi, Brahmajitvarman, Ranajitvarman, Indrajitvarman, Trailokyavarman
Names
Srimanmat Paramardidevvarman Chandel Hindi: श्रीमनमत परमर्दिदेववर्मन चन्देल [3]
Regnal name
Parmal
HouseHaihaya, Chandravansh
DynastyChandel
FatherYashovarman II
ReligionVaishnava set, Hinduism

Paramardideva-Varman[4](संस्कृत: परमर्दिदेववर्मन: चन्देल) (Reign 1165-1203 AD), also known as Parmal or Paramardin, was the last emperor of the India from the Chandel dynasty.[5][6] His capital was located at Mahoba, Jejakabhukti in present-day Uttar Pradesh. Around 1203 A.D., he fought very bravely and killed against the Ghurids under Qutubuddin aibek.[7]

Early lifeEdit

The Bateshvar inscription of Paramardideva's suggests that he succeeded his father Yashovarman II. However, other Chandel inscriptions (including those of his own) suggest that he succeeded his grandfather Madanavarman. It is possible that his father Yashovarman II ruled for a very short period, or did not rule at all, having died while his grandfather Madanavarman was still alive.[8]

According to some actual verses found of Parmal Raso, Paramardi-Deva ascended the throne at the age of 5 years. An Ajaygarh inscription appears to corroborate this claim: it states that Paramardi was a leader even as a child (bāl-opi netā). Which clearly means he ascended the throne at the age of 5.[1]

The Semra copper-plate inscription vaguely eulogizes him as someonoe who surpassed Makaradhvaja (the god of love) in handsomeness, the ocean in depth, the lord of heaven in majesty, Brihaspati in wisdom, and Yudhishthira in truthfulness. Paramardideva was so munifi- cence and he promotes the learning. To his reign belong the largest number of the copper-plate charters issued by the Chandel kings, and they furnish the best proof of his liberality.[9]

The Supra inscription mentions that he was very well versed in archery and had an ancestral bow which was similar to the Sarangadhanush (one of the three best bows in the Puranas).[10]

He was a Vaishnava. A gold coin issued by him, featuring a seated goddess Sri (Laxmi), gives his other side name as Srimat Paramardi.[3] He was also devotee of Shiva, coz of his kuldevta was Nilkanth Shiva. He was a learned man, and is attributed as the author of a eulogy to Shiva, inscribed on a stone at Kalanjara. A inscriptions mentions that Paramardideva brought about the union of both Sri and Sarasvati in his own person.[11]

ReignEdit

 
Find spots of the inscriptions from Paramardi's reign[12]

The inscriptions from the first few years of Paramardi's reign have been found at Semra (1165-1166 CE), Mahoba (1166-1167 CE), Ichhawar (1171 CE), Mahoba (1173 CE), Pachar (1176 CE) and Charkhari (1178 CE).[13] All of these inscriptions use the imperial titles for him: Paramabhattaraka-Maharajadhiraja-Parameshvara- Shri-Kalanjaradhipati Shrimanmat Paramardideva. This indicates that in the early part of his reign, Paramardi retained the territories that he had inherited from his grandfather Madanavarman.[14] Several Chandelas inscriptions also mention Paramardi, but these contain little historical information.

Military careerEdit

ConquestEdit

An 1183 CE Mahoba inscription states that the lord of Tripuri fainted whenever he heard the songs about Paramardi's bravery. This suggests that Paramardi defeated a Kalachuri king of Tripuri, possibly Jayasimha.[15] This inscription also alludes to Paramardin's digvijaya campaigns in Anga, Vanga and Kalinga.[16] The Baghari (Bateshvar) stone inscription credits him with military victories and states that other kings bowed to him, but does not name any of these kings.[16] This inscription states that the Paramardideva's kingdom extended up to the sea during Digvijaya. [16] Some historean says that this advance upto sea is very probably it is mere rhetoric and not a sober fact.

The Bateshwar inscription of 1195 AD mentions that the foot-stool of Emperor Paramardidevavarman was light red due to the shine of the crest-jewels of the kings or feudal lords, who were bowing before him. The 1195 CE Bateshvar inscription states that other feudatory kings bowed before him, and the 1201 CE Kalanjara inscription describes him as the lord of Dasharna country. Most probably he directly took the control over Dasharna from his one of feudal.[17]

The Ajaygarh inscription of his grandson's wife Kalyanadevi similarly describes him as a universal sovereign (Chakravartin), whose enemies were left in a pitiful condition.[16]

Chahamana invasionEdit

During 1182 CE, the Chahamana ruler Prithviraj Chauhan invaded the Chandel Empire.[14] According to the medieval ballads, Prithviraj was returning to Delhi after marrying the daughter of Padamsen. During this journey, he was attacked by Turkic forces (Ghurids). The Chauhan army managed to repulse the attacks, but suffered serious casualties in the process. They lost their way, and arrived in the Chandel capital Mahoba. The Chauhan force, which had a number of wounded soldiers among them, unknowingly set up a camp in the Chandel royal garden. They killed the keeper of the garden for objecting to their presence. When Paramardi learned about this, he sent some soldiers to counter the Chauhan force. The Chandelas suffered heavy losses in the ensuing conflict. Paramardi then decided to send another force led by his general Udal against Prithviraj. Udal advised against this proposal, arguing that it would not be appropriate to attack wounded soldiers or to antagonize a powerful king like Prithviraj. However, Paramardi was under the influence of his brother-in-law Mahil Parihar (Pratihara), who secretly harboured ill-will against the Chandelas. Mahil instigated Paramardi to go ahead with the attack plan. The Chandela force led by Udal then launched a second attack against the Chauhan army, but was defeated. The situation subsided when Prithviraj left for Delhi.[18] Unable to bear Mahil Parihar's political scheming, Udal and his brother Alha left the Chandel court.

They took shelter with Jaichand, the Gahadavala ruler of Kannauj.[18] Mahil then sent a secret message to Prithviraj Chauhan, informing him that the best generals of Paramardi had left Mahoba. Instigated by him, Prithviraj set out from Delhi in 1182 CE and marched to the Chandel territory via Gwalior and Bateshwar. First, he besieged Sirsagarh, which was held by Malkhan, a cousin of Alha and Udal. Prithviraj tried to win over Malkhan, but Malkhan remained loyal to Paramardi and fought against the invaders. After Malkhan killed eight generals of the invading army, Prithviraj himself took charge of the battle. The Chandelas ultimately lost the battle, and Malkhan was killed.[19] Prithviraj then started a march towards Mahoba. Facing an imminent defeat, Paramardi and his nobles sought a truce on the advice of his chief queen Malhan Devi. Prithviraj agreed to the truce, but remained encamped on the banks of the Betwa River in the Chandel territory. The Chandelas, meanwhile, requested Alha and Udal to come back from Kannauj.[19] The two brothers were initially hesitant, but agreed to return after their mother appealed them to honour their allegiance to the Chandelas. Jaichand dispatched an army led by his best generals, including two of his own sons, to support the Chandelas. Paramardi himself became nervous, and retreated to the Kalanjara fort with some of his soldiers. His son Brahmajit, along with Alha and Udal, led the Chandel army against Prithviraj Chauhan. In the ensuing battle, the Chandelas were defeated. Brahmajit, Udal and the two sons of Jaichand were killed in the conflict. After his victory, Prithviraj sacked the Chandel capital of Mahoba.[20] Next, Prithviraj dispatched his general Chavand Rai to Kalanjara. The Chauhan army captured the fort, took Paramardi as prisoner, and marched back towards Delhi.[21] According to the Parmal Raso, Alha's son Indal Kumar launched a surprise attack on the returning Chauhan army, and freed Paramardi. Out of shame, Paramardi later committed suicide at the Gajraj temple.[21] Parmala Raso states that his 50 wives committed sati (self-immolation) after his death. Whereas brahminical record for Chandelas and Chandel record mentioned that Paramardideva married only one woman, Malhana devi, a parihara princess of his vassal Vasudeva And despite being a king, he never looked at any woman with such eyes, just like his religious ancestors and considered everyone as his mother and sister. Paramardideva's son called his great grandfather Madanavarman unrighteous because he had 3 wives and that unrighteous karma became the reason for the Chandelas' defeat by the Muslims in 1203, so why he did not criticize Paramardideva for having 50 wives if he really had as per claim of Prithviraja III.[22] According to Chand Bardai, he retired to Gaya and died there.[21] The Prithviraj Raso states that Prithviraj appointed Pajjun Rai as the governor of Mahoba. Later, Paramardideva's son Samarjit recaptured Mahoba with help of Narasimha, an officer of Jaichand. Samarjit then ruled the territory between Kalanjara and Gaya. However, no such prince is mentioned in the Chandelas records.[23]

The exact historicity of this legendary narrative is debatable, but it is known that Prithviraj Chauhan may sacked Mahoba, but this unhistorical claim is also corroborated by prithviraj stone inscriptions at Madanpur.[20]

However, the prolonged occupation of Mahoba or Kalanjara by Chauhans is not supported by historical evidence.[23] Moreover, it is known that Paramardideva did not die or retire immediately after the claimed year of Chauhan victory, in fact, he continued ruling as a sovereign nearly a decade after Prithviraj's death. The cinthia talbot suggested that the invasion on Mahoba wasn't battle but probably mere a small raid and prithviraj was unable to capture Jejakabukti.

Moreover, the repulsion of Prithviraj's invasion was so easy for Paramardideva hense Chandelas didn't mentioned that. The Chandel record of 1187 A.D. mentioned that Paramardideva again defeated Prithviraja Chauhan in the Battle of Kirtisagara.[24]

He is known to have issued several inscriptions after this event: the Kalanjara rock inscription, the 1184 CE Mahoba stone inscription, the 1187 CE Ajaygarh stone inscription, the 1195 CE Baghari (Bateshvar) stone inscription, and the 1201 CE Kalanjara stone inscription.[21] These records give imperial titles for Paramardi, indicating that he remained a sovereign ruler.[17] The Muslim chronicles also provide evidence that Paramardideva ruled until the beginning of the next century, when the Delhi Sultanate invaded the Chandel Empire.[23]

The 1195 CE Bateshvar inscription states that other feudatory kings bowed before him, and the 1201 CE Kalanjara inscription describes him as the lord of Dasharna country.[17]

Ghurid invasion and deathEdit

See also: Siege of Kalinjar

According to a Kalanjara inscription, while one of Paramardideva's predecessors had imprisoned the wives of the earthly rulers, Paramardideva's heroics made even the divine rulers anxious about the safety of their wives. As a result, the gods let loose an army of mlechchhas (foreigners) against him, and made him face a defeat.[15]

Prithviraj Chauhan was killed in the Second Battle of Tarain against the Ghurids in 1192 CE. After defeating the Chahamanas (Chauhans) and the Gahadavalas, the Ghurid governor of Delhi planned an invasion of Chandel Empire.[25] A force led by Qutb al-Din Aibak, And with strong generals like Iltutmish, surrounded the Chandel fort of Kalanjara in 1202 AD and launched the attack without any warning.[17] Due to this, military power could not come from Mahoba, the military capital of Chandelas and the military force present in Kalinjar was very less. But the Paramardidevvarman didn't accept defeat, he fought very bravely in the war untill his death.[26] After the death of Paramardideva, the Chandelas fought with courage and bravery till the end under the leadership of his commander Ajay Dev but were killed due to lack of military force.[27][28] After the war, only 200 Chandel warriors were able to survive (if they save them).[29]

Taj-ul-Maasir, written by the Delhi chronicler Hasan Nizami, states that Parmar (Paramardi) initially offered some resistance, but then fled to the safety of the fort. Subsequently, he surrendered before ruler of Delhi, and agreed to be his vassal.[25] He promised to pay a tribute to the Sultan, but died before he could execute this agreement. His dewan Aj Deo (Ajaya-Deva) continued to resist the ruler of Delhi after his death. The dewan was finally forced to surrender as the water reservoirs within the fort dried up during a drought. Taj-ul-Masir further states that after the Sultanate's victory, temples were converted into mosques and 50,000 Hindu men were taken as slaves. Qutb al-Din Aibak appointed Hazabbar-ud-Din Hasan Arnal as the governor of Kalanjara, and also captured Mahoba.[30]

The 16th century Muslim historian Firishta states that Paramardi was assassinated by his own minister, who disagreed with the king's decision to surrender to the Delhi forces.[30]

Firishta as well as Fakhruddin Mubarakshah state that the fall of Kalanjara happened in the Hijri year 599 (1202-1203 CE). According to Taj-ul-Masir, Kalanjara fell on 20th of Rajab, in the Hijri year 599, on Monday. However, this date corresponds to 12 April 1203 CE, which was a Friday. Based on different interpretations of the historical sources, different scholars date the fall of Kalanjara to either 1202 CE or 1203 CE.[22]

According to the Chandela inscriptions, Paramardi was succeeded by Trailokyavarman.[17]

AdministrationEdit

According to the Baghari inscription, Paramardideva-Varman placed the burden of government on the shoulder of his prime minister Sallakshana, who was a Brahmin of Vashistha gotra. After his death, his son Purushottama inherited his post. After his victory over invader Prithviraja III, he ordered his minister Sallakshana to commissioned two marble temples dedicated to Lord Vishnu and another to his Kuldevta Shiva. The verses mentioned, a Chakravartin (Paramardideva) as touching the feet of Lord Vishnu by lying down.[22]

The Baghari inscription also mentions one Gadadhara as Paramardideva's minister of war and peace (sandhna-vigraha-sachiva). According to the Ajaygarh inscription of Bhojavarman, a Kayastha named Gangadhara was the Kancukin (chamberlain) of Paramardideva. Gangadhara and his brother Jaunadhara are said to have fought at Kalanjara, possibly in the battle against the Delhi forces.[31]

Ajayapala and Madanapala, the sons of a former senapati (general) Kilhana, were two Brahmin senapatis of Paramardideva.[11] Ajayapala is also known to have been a senapati of Paramardideva's grandfather Madanavarman.[32] Muslim chronicles mention Aj Deo (Ajaya-Deva) as a dewan who continued to resist the Delhi forces after Paramardideva's death. The medieval bardic tradition also mentions Alha (Alhandeva Chandel) and Udala (Udaideva or Udal) as his generals. Other officers mentioned in the historical records include Mahipala and an amatya named Vatsaraja.[11]

He patronized a number of scholars, including:[33]

  • Vatsaraja, the author of Rupa-Kashatakam (a collection of six plays)
  • Gadadhara, a poet styled as Kavi-Chakravarti
  • Jaganika, the author of Alha-Khanda
  • Gunabhadra Munipa Saiddhanti, the Jain author of Dhanya-Kumara-Charita

Although himself a Vaishnav, Paramardideva-Varman was tolerant towards Buddhists, Jains and Shaivs. A copper-plate inscription shows that when he granted a village to a Brahmin, he respected the rights of a Buddhist shrine located in that village.

Several images of the Jain tirthankaras were set up at various places during his reign.[33] The best known of these are at the Aharji Jain Tirth Near Tikamgarh.[citation needed]

Mediaeval BardsEdit

Paramardi is mentioned in several legendary texts such as Paramala Raso (Parmal Raso) Prithviraj Raso or Mahoba Khand), and Alha-Khand (Alha Raso or Ballad of Alha). While these texts are not fully based on historical events, much of their content has been fabricated to glorify either Prithviraj Chauhan or Paramardi. Thus, these texts are of doubtful historicity, and therefore, much of Paramardi's reign is shrouded in obscurity.[16][14]

Alhakhand was fabricated by local people in 15 c. Later by some poets who supported them. In Alhakhand, Paramardi has been mentioned as a coward and Alha Udal has been over glorified. The Alha Khand states the end of the Chandelas after Parmal. That is not supported by history. The Chandel dynasty lingered on at least until 1545 CE, i.e. another century.[34]

The medieval bardic legends such as Alha-Khand call him Paramala or Parimala. In modern vernaculars, he is also known as Paramardidev, Parmar, Paramal Deo or Parimal Chandel (because of schwa deletion).

The genealogy of Chandel Emperor Parmardidev given in Mahoba Khand of Prithviraja Raso and Alha Khand does not match the genealogy given in Chandel inscriptions and records. In Mahoba Khand, the father, grandfather and the great-grandfather of Parmal are given as Kirtibramha, Madanbrahma, and Rahilbramha. While Madanavarman (1129-1163), Kirttivarman (1070-1098) and Rahilvarman (9th century) were indeed ancestors of Paramardidevavarman (1166-1202),[35] most names and the sequence do not match. In the iterpolated version of Paramalaraso by Kavi Raybhushan and other authors (who fabricated the story), Alha Udal of Banafar branch of Chandel dynasty has been mentioned as a branch of Tomar dynasty, and the founder of Banafar dynasty is mentioned as Chintamani Tomar who was the minister of Chandravarman but there is a difference of 7 generations between Chintamani and Alha, whereas 17 generations of Chandelas had passed from Chandravarman to Paramardideva-Varman in Chandel records. While in Chandelas record he is mentioned as nephew of Chandel emperor Parmardidev and Banafar due to there (Alha) son (Indal) was born in Vana or Bana (Jungle) during exile from Mahoba by Paramardidev.[36][37]

The current Parmalaraso isn't original Parmalaraso by Chandel poet Jagnikrao, it's original work is said to be lost according to Historeans.Mahoba Khand: This work was discovered as a manuscript by Shyamsundar Das in 1901 as one of the two sections of a manuscript labelled "Prithviraj Raso".

Shyamsundar Das concluded that it is separate text and published it using the title Parmal Raso in 1919, so basically he renamed Mahoba Khand of Prithviraja Raso as Parmalaraso. It has 36 cantos, starting from the origin of the Chandelas and ends with Alha becoming a disciple of yogi Gorakhnath and retiring to forests as a monk.[38]

ReferencesEdit

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 R. K. Dikshit 1976, p. 140.
  2. ↑ Allahabad, University of (1971). University of Allahabad Studies (in हिन्दी).
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 P. C. Roy 1980, pp. 54-55.
  4. ↑ Thapar, Romila (14 October 2013). The Past Before Us. Harvard University Press. ISBN 978-0-674-72651-2.
  5. ↑ Mitra, Sisir Kumar (1977). The Early Rulers of Khajur (Second Revised Edition). Motilal Banarsidass Publ. ISBN 978-81-208-1997-9.
  6. ↑ Chandra, Satish (2007). History of Medieval India: 800-1700. Orient BlackSwan. ISBN 978-81-250-3226-7.
  7. ↑ Jahan, Dr Ishrat. Socio-Cultural life in Medieval History. Lulu.com. ISBN 978-0-359-22280-3.
  8. ↑ R. K. Dikshit 1976, pp. 139-140.
  9. ↑ R. K. Dikshit 1976, p. 152.
  10. ↑ R. K. Dikshit 1976, p. 153.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 R. K. Dikshit 1976, p. 150.
  12. ↑ Sisirkumar Mitra 1977, p. 119, 124.
  13. ↑ Sisirkumar Mitra 1977, p. 119.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 Sisirkumar Mitra 1977, p. 120.
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 R. K. Dikshit 1976, p. 143.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3 16.4 R. K. Dikshit 1976, p. 141.
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 17.3 17.4 Sisirkumar Mitra 1977, p. 126.
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 Sisirkumar Mitra 1977, p. 121.
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 Sisirkumar Mitra 1977, p. 122.
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 Sisirkumar Mitra 1977, p. 123.
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 21.2 21.3 Sisirkumar Mitra 1977, p. 124.
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 22.2 R. K. Dikshit 1976, p. 149.
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 23.2 Sisirkumar Mitra 1977, p. 125.
  24. ↑ Randhawa, Mohinder Singh; Randhawa, Doris Schreier (1985). Indian Sculpture: The Scene, Themes, and Legends. Vakils, Feffer & Simons.
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 R. K. Dikshit 1976, p. 147.
  26. ↑ Jahan, Dr Ishrat. Socio-Cultural life in Medieval History. Lulu.com. ISBN 978-0-359-22280-3.
  27. ↑ Mahajan, Vidya Dhar (1965). Muslim Rule in India. S. Chand.
  28. ↑ Mahajan, Vidya Dhar; Mahajan, Savitri (1963). The Sultanate of Delhi. S. Chand. {{cite book}}: line feed character in |first= at position 6 (help)
  29. ↑ Sisirkumar Mitra 1977, p. 147.
  30. ↑ 30.0 30.1 R. K. Dikshit 1976, p. 148.
  31. ↑ R. K. Dikshit 1976, pp. 149-150.
  32. ↑ R. K. Dikshit 1976, p. 136.
  33. ↑ 33.0 33.1 R. K. Dikshit 1976, p. 151.
  34. ↑ आल्हा- रुदल की ऐतिहासिकता, इंदिरा गांधी राष्ट्रीय कला केन्द्र,
  35. ↑ Shishir Kumar Mitra, Early Rulers of Khajuraho, Motilal Banarasidas, 1977, p. 240
  36. ↑ Dwivedi, Ram Awadh (1966). A Critical Survey of Hindi Literature. Motilal Banarsidass. ISBN 978-0-8426-1245-6.
  37. ↑ Dwivedi, Ram Awadh (1953). Hindi Literature. Hindi Pracharak Pustakalaya.
  38. ↑ Parmal Raso, Shyam sunder Das, 1919, 551 pages

BibliographyEdit

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